The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
ANrIDOTE FOR sNAKE-BIrE.

An Opportunity for Somebody to Render q
Service in the Cause of Science.
ypecial 20 the Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Oct 22.-Some years ago DR..
J. B. De Lacerda, learned scientist OF Brazil,
conducted = number of experiments with the
purpose Of discovering antidote for the poison
Of venomous serpents. He at last tried
chemical antidote permanganate of potassium
injected into the bite, and met with wonderful
success. The result of his experiments he pub
lished in book form. and at the time his brochure
attracted considerable attention among scen-
lists Some discredit was, however. thrown on
his experiments by an attempt to repeat them
in France, which WAS an absolute failure Be-
heving that there is a good deal of truth in what
Dr. De Lacerda claims. DIR. Yarrow, Of the Smith
sonian Institution, has undertaken series or
experiments with the poison of rattlesnakes, in
tending to use the permangannte OF potassium
rs an antidote Various herbal preparations.
having the reputation among country folk of be-
ing remarkably eficacious in of snake bite,
will also be tried. and fine specimen of mad
stone" popularity supposed to be possessed OF
great virtue in such cases. has been procured.
and will be tested. in order to set at rest once
and forever the conflicting opinions on this
much de bated subject DIR. Narrow has pro-
cured four fine specimens of rattlesnakes
from London county, Virginia, and during the
past week he has been collecting from them
quantity of their venom. The manner of doing
this follows: Taking long stick. to the
end of which securely fastened broad
leather strap, be confined the latter loosely
about a couple OF inches from the end of the
stick make a loop below which could be
drawn tight Armed with this instrument he
caught the reptiles one by one. by passing the
loop over their heads. An assistant then held
q thin stick, to the end Of which was attached a
piece of cotton wool saturated with glycerine,
10 the mouth OF the snake and he was made TO
bite the wool which soaked up the venom
emitted freely by the angry creaturc as 1t buried
rs fanes in its inanimate enemy. The poison
virus having thus been extracted from
the serpents it soaked out in an ounce
of glycerine and the operation repeated
on the following dav An drachm and half of
enough to kill thirty The experiments
certain quantity of virus sufficient to kill, will
be hypod errnically injected into a pigeon
tile first experiment.. Then a little more than
was enough to kill will be injected into another
pigeon and i'm % ediateiy followed by an injection
nf tho permanganate of potassium, which it is
believed will prove antidote. The expert
nents will then be continued, allowing varying
spaces of time to elspse batween the injection of
the virus and the application OF the antidote In
this connection DR.. Yarrow is anxious 20 find
nan who would like be bitten by rattle
snake in tire cause of science. and who would be-
willing to take his chances OF surviving the ex-
pertinent. Should an antidote for snake bite be
found by DIR. Yarrow the course of these ex-
oer.ments he will confer incalculable benefit
upon mankind.